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I never thought I’d say I missed a politician, but Jimmy Smith is the exception. The guy is total class.

I’ll never forget his efforts at helping us start up Humboldt County’s first Stand Down in 2006.

“Thanks for your hard work Jimmy!

I hope you and your wife get to take a long vacation now.”

Anonymous

June 4, 2011 at 10:40 am

I hope a credible challenger steps up to challenge Bohn. The guy is pretty far-right politically and totally in line with Arkley’s agenda of any development is good development. We need more moderate-liberal folks like Jimmy to stand up to the good ol’ boys.

Anonymous

June 4, 2011 at 10:53 am

How is it that Rex Bohn is in the 1st District while his next door neighbor Supervisor Virginia Bass is in the 4th District?

My father worked with Jimmy on fishing issues. He’s a great supervisor and friend. It’s a shame he is not running again.

Anonymous

June 4, 2011 at 12:07 pm

Keep chasing that dream Rex.

Anonymous

June 4, 2011 at 12:09 pm

“‘We’re doing some great work,’ he said. ‘We have a great team of supervisors. I have the best district, with just the best people in it. We’re doing some great things together’…He plans to bring his successor into his office and work closely with them, to give them a solid understanding of the issues before the board,” the Lost Coast Outpost reported.

Jimmy has been a class act and a consummate gentleman throughout. He has worked tirelessly representing the best interests of Humboldt County. His day oftens starts very early and ends late, as many who know him observed. Before the Board of Supervisors meets and during their breaks, Jimmy is off the dais and onto the floor meeting and greeting the public while fellow Board members retire privately behind the podium.

Always prepared, actively engaged, gracious and soft spoken, considerate and conscientious, Jimmy is one of the most respected Supervisors in recent memory. Thank you for your dedicated and hard work serving Humboldt, Jimmy.

Anonymous

June 4, 2011 at 12:10 pm

Well, 10:53, they are called Supervisoral District boundaries. You might check into it before commenting. And, Rex is not Virginia’s “next door neighbor.” Close by, yes. Next door, not. Boundaries do matter, but checking facts before speaking does too.

Curley

June 4, 2011 at 2:02 pm

Rex is a good man. Hear him out.

Decline To State

June 4, 2011 at 2:17 pm

I read in today’s Times Standard that Supervisor Virginia Bass will throw her support behind Rex Bohn for the 1st district job. Sigh.

Anonymous

June 4, 2011 at 2:44 pm

I feel Jimmy was somewhat abused on this blog. I think he did a great job and will be missed. Rex is pretty right wingy but he works harder than most people I know and strives for a kid friendly community. I could get behind him.

tra

June 4, 2011 at 3:01 pm

I don’t recall Jimmy being “abused” on this blog. Can you give more specifics? Do you mean “abused” by Heraldo, or by commenters?

Eric Kirk

June 4, 2011 at 3:13 pm

I read in today’s Times Standard that Supervisor Virginia Bass will throw her support behind Rex Bohn for the 1st district job. Sigh.

It would make for awkward neighborhood picnics if she didn’t.

Anonymous

June 4, 2011 at 5:22 pm

Hey Anonymous 12:10, could you please post the detailed map of the Supervisorial District boundary? Does the line in fact go right between Rex and Virginia’s homes? I believe only about 50 feet separate their houses. I can’t seem to locate a detailed map online. Its just interesting, that’s all. Unless of course the line is unclear, or Rex is claiming another residence elsewhere, in which case it may be a matter worth clearing up…

the hat

June 4, 2011 at 5:40 pm

Geez, Arkley thinks so little of the brains in the first district that he thinks he can use Rex to buy his way onto the board again even though Rex isn’t even from there — he ran for Eureka City Council. Hopefully, he’s not right.

Eric Kirk

June 4, 2011 at 6:42 pm

This came up when Virginia ran. The line literally does pass between their homes.

Anon

June 4, 2011 at 7:30 pm

Jimmy is a nice guy but at times he has wimped out on votes. Bonnie’s death stare got him going and he voted with her over and over again. We need a stronger person on the Board of Supervisors whether it is Rex or another person. At times Jimmy has not even gotten it right when making a motion to approve and the others just don’t want to critize him for that. I do like him as a person and think he has done some good things for his district but then on other hand he has interfered by his votes with other district’s powers. He goes to a lot of breakfast meetings with his old friends but that is just looking for votes as those meetings just don’t have any issues that he is resolving. Some of the other Supervisors are doing the same thing and that should also be watched for the future. Just my thoughts.

Build, baby, build!

June 4, 2011 at 8:12 pm

Curley said, “Rex is a good man. Hear him out.”

Uh, Curley, we heard just fine when Rex barked “build, baby, build” to the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminal proposed for Eureka proposed a decade back. It was a deeply unpopular proposition not just in Eureka, but in the areas nearby which would have been directly affected by potential accidents (by the way, Calpine, the developer, went out of business shortly afterward).

We heard just fine when Rex castigated “opponents of growth” for their opposition to ANY kind of development in Eureka. Rex articulated a laissez faire philosophy of “opening the floodgates” of Humboldt to any kind of development whatsoever. I’m sure Rex would be just fine with a Wal-Mart SuperCenter anywhere they damn wanted to put it in Eureka. Rex is a good guy in many respects, but his values in regard to development of Eureka and our county just plain scare me. He acts like this place is Stockton or Modesto. It’s not.

Curley: you have a short memory!

non

June 4, 2011 at 8:25 pm

Any word out there on former HumCo Planning Commissioner Jeff Smith?

Lookout

June 4, 2011 at 8:44 pm

The way I heard it, Matthew and Virginia had their property surveyed and found that while their house is solidly in the 1st district, their back fence is in the 4th district. And that was only her 2nd best qualification for supervisor!

At any rate, I’m quite sure that Rex’s house is entirely inside the 1st district. God help us!

How will a tight neighborhood clic in deepest Eureka having 2 of 5 seats on the board sit with, say, Field’s Landing or Ferndale?
I’m with “Build Baby” when it comes to Rex’s philosophy about Eureka’s future. Maybe he thinks Modesto is a really great place. I do not and I do not want Eureka to become just like it. Rex says he thinks Humboldt County is great but he doesn’t seem to understand what makes it so. Stick with the ballfields, Rex, and you’ll do good service for us all.

Steve

June 4, 2011 at 9:40 pm

Jimmy is a class act. His shoes are too big to fill. If you see what he does daily – returning every single phone call whether in his district or not – it’s hard to believe anyone will be able to fill those shoes. I agree Rex does good things for the kids but for the adults, no thanks. What’s this Jeff Smith rumbling?? Jeff could fill those shoes well.

Eric Kirk

June 4, 2011 at 10:34 pm

You know, I’m having a hard time seeing how Rex can stay in the First District after the redistricting. The Fourth District needs more precincts, and it looks like under the proposal to be discussed on Tuesday that pretty much everything north of Harris is going to be moved into the Fourth. And given the current population distributions, I don’t see how that can be avoided.

tra

June 4, 2011 at 11:27 pm

It’s an interesting point. And unlike Clif, and the other incumbents, Rex doesn’t get to vote on where those district lines will be. I guess he could move to a new residence that is well within the new district boundaries, but that would raise “carpetbagger issues.” It will certainly be interesting to see how this all plays out!

"HENCHMAN OF JUSTICE"

June 5, 2011 at 5:47 am

Nobody is perfect, especially politicians proven to be not perfect; but hey, nice words and all, Jimmy is one of the better officials. We all have personal experiences and documented facts to embarrass some of these posters and their comments, for accuracy in character is hard to come-by today in politics since so much “behind the closed-doors damage control” occurs, unbeknownst to anyone mostly not a county maintained political victim or county official.

Funny how many nice things are said about elected officials by those who have been treated positively different or who have something to benefit from or gain individually, not community wide….as compared to how many not so nice things have occurred to folks who “check-mate” the elected and appointed officials on their abuses, tactics and outright conspiratorial frauds.

No wonder America is deep in debt with tenured politicians scrambling to retire to get out now before they become deeper in the exposed rift of political treasons against this country due to the insatiable desire and dedication for greed, power and control.

Ought to be interesting again to see bare witness to the massive volume of voters who will throw away socio-economic opportunities because politically, their too stuck on stupid, partly due to arrogant and selfish egos – history is too hard to change, but easy to replicate like the Borg in Star Trek, for real.

So, who still sends their children off to public school?

BTW, Jimmy does this too like many other elected officials – he’ll stoop to low levels (sometimes pulling faces) for information on a politically abused citizen to gain a more powerful stance for the county to cover-up its own abuses and legal responsibilities. Jimmy ain’t no saint, but he is also far from the devil. So, like most, Jimmy is a tweener who is critiqued on what “public infromation” is let-out by the supes and the local rag media.

In fact, outta these monikerized comments, guaranteed the “nameless” posters are all moderately to heavily involved with politics from the inside as an official or official groupee, advertized or not. So, not totally unexpected to see taintings on behalf or against any given individual associated with politics on a routine basis.

Jeffrey Lytle
McKinleyville – 5th District

Arcatawikileaks

June 5, 2011 at 7:23 am

Not to throw water on the big box store ban but, the Supreme court ruled that corporations have the same rights as people so you can’t ban them from your town.
It would be like trying to ban black people or native americans…oh wait its Eureka i forgot.

High Finance

June 5, 2011 at 7:45 am

Jimmy Smith is a far nicer person and a far better class act than many of the posters here. As evidenced above.

Watch the smears & personal attacks against Rex here increase dramatically the closer we get to the primary.

Ben

June 5, 2011 at 8:12 am

This blog attempted to smear and attacked Sundberg and Bass and they both won! So much for the power of the Herald.

Down the Road

June 5, 2011 at 8:14 am

Those of us that have had reason to associate with
Jimmy Smith, Rex Bohn or Jeff Smith beg the public
to go out and find a candidate to run for this district.
Some levelheaded person that is honest and that can
come to a conclusion without being influenced by some
right or left political group.

Casey

June 5, 2011 at 8:14 am

This is a crying shame.

Mitch

June 5, 2011 at 8:53 am

Ben,

If it’s true, important, and suppressed, is it a smear to tell people? In your world, maybe.

Schwingerkönig

June 5, 2011 at 8:53 am

Erik, drawing the lines of the 1st district to keep Rex from being able to run is DIRTY politics if ever there was any. The current proposal does not move his precint into the 4th, but if Lovelace et al. tries to we will all know why.

ken

June 5, 2011 at 8:54 am

I don’t know of another person locally who donates as much time as REX does to local youth. The Redwood fields would not be there if it were not for REX. Jimmy is a good leader. Big shoes to fill, but I think he’s up to it. You have my vote!

Eric Kirk

June 5, 2011 at 8:56 am

Not to throw water on the big box store ban but, the Supreme court ruled that corporations have the same rights as people so you can’t ban them from your town.

Maybe not, but you aren’t obligated to give them a zoning variance either.

It’s an interesting point. And unlike Clif, and the other incumbents, Rex doesn’t get to vote on where those district lines will be. I guess he could move to a new residence that is well within the new district boundaries, but that would raise “carpetbagger issues.” It will certainly be interesting to see how this all plays out!

Well, the First District is the least populated right now, and the more it gives up in Eureka, the more it has to draw from the Second. And I’m not absolutely certain that Rex’s precinct is on the chopping block, but I think his candidacy is seriously in jeopardy before it gets started.

Hey, let Henchy be Henchy! He’s kinda like that hot pepper in the Kung Pao Chicken. Really bothersome when you bite into it, but the dish just wouldn’t be the same without it.

The Big Picture

June 5, 2011 at 12:11 pm

“The bad news is that we’ve been invaded by martians, the good news is that they eat the poor and pee gasoline”-Kurt Vonnegut.

As listed above, Rex Bohn has been on the wrong side of every local issue except volunteerism.

Nevertheless, with the deepest pockets backing him he’ll have a good chance…it’s where all our other “martians” came from.

With 80% of county residents unable to qualify for a home, and the development community drooling to begin the next housing bubble, Jimmy Smith said, “I don’t like the way inclusionary zoning sounds”.

He and Rex Bohn have far more in common than you think.

High Finance

June 5, 2011 at 12:34 pm

“With 80 of county residents unable to qualify for a home”

Baloney.

"HENCHMAN OF JUSTICE"

June 5, 2011 at 1:15 pm

Ben says:
June 5, 2011 at 8:12 am
This blog attempted to smear and attacked Sundberg and Bass and they both won! So much for the power of the Herald.

Response: So true, that the nail head got pounded deep into the grain of Redwood country. The Humboldt Herald earned the community builder award for its stealthy and groupified efforts :-)

Yet, on another note, shhhhhhhhush, don’t let the secret of “smearing = wins campaigns” get out cuz then those who smear as alias character doubles might just reverse the tactic in the next election…..oh boy, watch-out ~ sarcasm.

JL

Ben

June 5, 2011 at 7:20 pm

I believe that the general public wants people in office who have a long history of community service, such as Rex. He is well known and respected for his many years of service and will be a strong candidate who has a clear record of getting things done for the community. I look forward to his campaign and sincerely hope he is elected.

What Now

June 5, 2011 at 7:20 pm

Bohn is a classless, boorish jackass.
Get a couple of beers in him and he makes Sean Hannity appear liberal and open minded.

Anonymous

June 5, 2011 at 9:01 pm

To not move a precinct line to save Rex’s campaign would be political.

JAG

June 5, 2011 at 9:03 pm

“what now” talks like someone who really knows Mr. Bohn. What else do you know about him?

Build, baby, build!

June 5, 2011 at 9:06 pm

Ben (Shephard) –

You lost. Twice. Badly. Now, please don’t pretend your reactionary views are the norm for Humboldt County voters. Just because Arkley used his money to smear and bludgeon his candidates into office doesn’t mean that his politics are embraced by the People. It just means he (temporarily) outsmarted them.

tra

June 5, 2011 at 9:19 pm

I think Rex Bohn is a good guy who genuinely cares about the well-being of the community. He certainly has a “long history of community service” that you can admire whether or not you agree with his politics. Personally, I strongly disagreed with his stands on a number of issues, including the foolishly dangerous (or was it dangerously foolish?) plan for an LNG facility on Humboldt Bay.

I just hope it doesn’t end up being Bohn, supported by the Eureka-based Arkley / Bass camp vs. some candidate supported by the Arcata-based Lovelace / Healthy Humboldt camp. I would much rather see someone more in the mold of Jimmy Smith, who did not have to cater to either of those camps, but had a distinct base of support in the 1st district itself.

Hopefully there will be a number of other well-qualified candidates joining the race in the coming months.

Anonymous

June 5, 2011 at 10:26 pm

Agree totally, tra. Rex is a nice guy who gives generously of his time to many community endeavors, but he would NEVER cross Arkley. In reaction, the opposing camp will put forth a candidate they own. We need someone who can think independently.

Eric Kirk

June 5, 2011 at 10:37 pm

To not move a precinct line to save Rex’s campaign would be political.

True. But moving any line anywhere is bound to look political to someone.

tra

June 6, 2011 at 12:47 am

As someone much more concise and to-the-point than yours truly pointed out in the Redistricting thread over at Sohum Parlance —

“Drawing lines is always political.”

Yes, that’s an oversimplification — but it’s an oversimplification that may contain a considerable amount of truth in this context.

Ben

June 6, 2011 at 7:55 am

Any candidate who is “independent” will not have either the liberal or conservative infrastructure to support them, the curse of being in the middle. Money flows from the passionate liberal and conservative to their candidates.
As far as redistricting, if a candidate has announced, it is unlikely that he would be redistricted to another district, that would be seriously political and seen as the Board playing polotics.

Anonymous

June 6, 2011 at 9:44 am

Ben, NOT redistricting an area because of an announced candidate is just as political.

Eric Kirk

June 6, 2011 at 9:46 am

I agree Ben. But logistically it just may not be possible, unless they extend a single tendril deeper into Eureka just to accommodate Rex. The Fourth District needs additional precincts to meet the state requirements, and it seems to make the most sense to work from the precincts farthest within Eureka outward. I guess they could bring some of Arcata into the Fourth District, but that doesn’t make sense either.

High Finance

June 6, 2011 at 9:55 am

Both Rex & Jimmy have far more class than “What Now” can ever dream of having or understand.

4th Street Connection

June 6, 2011 at 11:03 am

Leave Rex alone! He’s my 4th Street Connection.

Anonymous

June 6, 2011 at 11:27 am

Old Skool.

Anonymous

June 6, 2011 at 1:40 pm

Ben said, “As far as redistricting, if a candidate has announced, it is unlikely that he would be redistricted to another district, that would be seriously political and seen as the Board playing polotics.”

Just as political as making sure you announce your candidacy BEFORE the Board starts to make their decision, so that you can cry “UNFAIR! THAT’S POLITICS!” if you get put in a different district.

tra

June 6, 2011 at 1:49 pm

I guess they could bring some of Arcata into the Fourth District, but that doesn’t make sense either.

Even without moving any piece of Arcata, they could take some other portions of the 3rd and move them into the 4th. But I tend to agree that it seems more natural to incorporate some of the south end of Eureka and the “greater Eureka area” out of the 1st and into the 4th.

Eric Kirk

June 6, 2011 at 3:52 pm

According to Hank, it’s only Henderson Center which the 4th is taking from the 1st, which I would assume leaves Rex in the running.

I was assured in writing by Rob’s that Jimmy has “nothing else to do and no other way to earn a living than as a supervisors.”

Is this “just another Jimmy head fake” as Rob writes or is God not in his Heaven and our local Master of the Universe is in error?

tra

June 6, 2011 at 5:25 pm

Since you posted more or less the same comment on Eric’s blog, I’ll post the same response here:

Given the announcement of Jimmy’s retirement, Arkley sure made an ass of himself with that one (or maybe a better way to put it is that he revealed what an ass he can be).

But I suppose Arkley’s probably patting himself on the back, believing that he successfully frightened/bullied Jimmy into retiring…which I seriously doubt is the case.

Not A Native

June 6, 2011 at 5:47 pm

No one knows for sure Jimmy’s thinking, but I saw and heard on the dais a man happpy and fulfilled in his role.

I think Jimmy had no desire to be in a stressful contentious election that would require him to respond to innnuendo and lies. That’s exactly what Arkley threatened Jimmy would have and the Cutten flier gave proof to the threat.

Joel Mielke

June 6, 2011 at 5:49 pm

I must agree with High Finance’s last comment. Why do you people do this to me?

Anonymous

June 6, 2011 at 8:21 pm

He set the bar awfully low, just so you wouldn’t trip on it.

Anonymous

June 6, 2011 at 8:24 pm

tra, Rob has a sick habit of enjoying his opponent’s pain and his part in creating it. He loves putting down those who disagree as worthless and unable to make a living any other way. It’s definitely a character flaw and a sickness. I can’t emphasize this enough. Those of us who know him have seen it again and again.

Anonymous

June 6, 2011 at 9:13 pm

Nice person,for sure.Liberal too. Sat by and let Bonnie do her worst. Never took a hard position on a tough issue. Supported any and all growth in government. Always took the easy way out even when friends were getting savaged. Nice person, for sure. Humboldt politics will not suffer by his absence.

Joel Mielke

June 6, 2011 at 9:21 pm

“Always took the easy way out even when friends were getting savaged.”

How about an example, Anonymous, or are you just completely full of shit?

Anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 12:55 am

No, Joel that would be you. Are you wearing your depends? For all of Jimmy’s faults he’s still way ahead of you.

Anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 7:19 am

LOL! Joel the tool calling someone else full of shit. That’s rich.

Mitch

June 7, 2011 at 8:41 am

12:55, 7:19,

Great putdowns. (*)

You could have offered an example, I suppose, to demonstrate that you’re not full of shit. You haven’t done that, you know.

(*) sarcasm

skippy

June 7, 2011 at 8:43 am

Getting back to the more intelligent and substantive thread discussion and steering away from the insults towards Mr. Mielke (to note, an honorable and involved fellow doing his fine share of volunteer work last week), Mr. Sims reports today is a very big day for the BOS.

Jimmy’s Last Ride and his fellow BOS takes in redistricting, return of state park lands to the Yuork Tribe, animal advocates and Sheriff officers, budget updates, the HWMA/ARC drama, the NCRA, and a host of other items. The Chambers will be packed, the agendas far too long, and patience either enduring or yawning.

In other matters, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Sims, Tra, and others have excellently taken to highlighting the redistricting jigsaw puzzle to another level, as the 190+ illustrative comments attest to here. It’s an interesting read… in a wonky sort of way.

Embedded in those comments are the vague yet halfway credible ‘leanings’ (can you say ‘threats?’) against Supervisor Clendenen by the more powerful and dark bullying forces at hand should he not be voting for their special interests; and very akin to the similarily intimidating tactics used towards Supervisors Smith and Lovelace as revealed in Mr. Sim’s recent Public Records Act requests.

But does this dark intimidation plot against specific BOS members thicken? The Mirror today relished reporting on the Fair Political Practices filing complaint alleging an NCRA conflict of interest against Supervisor Clendenen based on the flimsiest of shaky grounds. The Eureka citizen filing the complaint? His name has been conveniently blurred out.

It’s going to be an interesting election year coming up, folks. Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies along with those special interests, lawyers, and complaints.

peace…. skippy (‘the tool’)

Shame on Me

June 7, 2011 at 8:49 am

Skippy,

You sure sound more liberal on this blog than you did when we spoke at the funeral at the ACPA.

Perhaps you aren’t quite as good of an actor as you imagine yourself to be.

Joel Mielke

June 7, 2011 at 8:52 am

Anonymous inadvertently answered my question. He can go back and bleat with the rest of the tiny, pea-brained herd at the Mirror now.

Down the Road

June 7, 2011 at 9:05 am

9:13 PM I agree with you. As far as Rex Bohn we who
are politically incorrect refer to him as the Dough Boy.

Teacher

June 7, 2011 at 9:26 am

I’m sure Rex does lean politically to the right. However, as those who are involved with local youth sports and other charities already know, Rex does donate massive amounts of time and money to causes he finds important (little league baseball fields in Cutten, bathrooms for the homeless, etc). Rex can be abrasive on a personal level, but I think the things that he does for the community deserved to at least be mentioned and considered when we talk about what kind of a person he is and what kind of a candidate he will be.

Not A Native

June 7, 2011 at 9:40 am

Yard work for little league, and standing at a podium as an entertainer MC aren’t relevant qualifications political office, IMO. Is he also a ‘God Fearing Christain’ and a ‘pillar of the community’, a “family man’? Does he kiss babies? All irrelevant.

Get serious. What are his educational and management attainments? What leadership has he demonstrated? Whats the history of positions he’s publically taken on politically important issues that the office he seeks would have authority over? Who are his close associates and advisors?

Others have brought up Bohn’s actual opinion on the LNG port proposal. What does Teacher think about Bohn’s position on that issue?

Anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 9:53 am

I don’t agree with Rex on many issues, but he does have managerial experience in his jobs at Renner and Evergreen. He worked in small business also, and started a small business.

Teacher

June 7, 2011 at 9:55 am

NAN, I’m not sure of his position on the LNG port proposal nor do I know what the port proposal is. I’m not sure of his religious beliefs and nor do I care about them. I do know that Rex raised the money for the Little League fields and helped with the construction of the fields. Eureka High currently uses the baseball field for their games and hundreds of kids use the little league fields every year. It’s a nice achievement and is a good thing for our community. It should be noted because it shows that he has had a positive impact on his local community.
Where ever you are from, maybe you look first at a candidate’s “educational attainments” (would a lib arts degree from HSU make Rex a more worthy candidate?) but my main concern is what the candidate has done in the community and what they plan to do. Once again, if you don’t like Rex, believe me, I completely understand. Don’t vote for Rex if his politics are different than yours. However, it still needs to be acknowledged that Rex is good for the community and sacrifices his free time for causes he believes in.

Joel Mielke

June 7, 2011 at 10:14 am

Would 9:05 post such a low blow about Jimmy Smith? Rex is a uniquely talented man and an asset to our community. Why not treat him with the respect that he deserves, even while opposing his candidacy?

Teacher

June 7, 2011 at 10:19 am

Well said Joel.

Anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 10:28 am

I think it has been acknowledged time and again that Rex has been more than generous with his time and energy for the betterment of the community and donates countless hours to various charitable causes. I’m also aware of his business experience and don’t doubt that he is capable. But can’t be denied that he is Arkley’s man all the way. He will vote right down the party line on every issue. If that’s what you want, vote for him. Otherwise, look for another candidate. That said, the name calling is just juvenile, 9:05.

High Finance

June 7, 2011 at 10:54 am

Thanks for the post Joel.

What the left fails to understand is that Arkley is not supporting certain candidates because he “controls” them. RA supports like minded candidates who believe along the lines that he does. If RA ordered any of these office holders to do something that goes against their beliefs he would get nowhere.

And the slimeball who posted at 9.05am has not seen Rex in the last few months.

anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 11:21 am

I disagree, HiFi. You are certainly right to the extent that the candidates are mostly like minded as a starting point…I’ll give you that. But Arkley, at the very least, creates a situation where the candidate feels too indebted to take a stand against him on any key issue.

High Finance

June 7, 2011 at 12:20 pm

Give me an example 11.21am, of where any of “his” office holders went against their beliefs at his orders and perhaps I will rethink my position.

I know them all well and I can’t think of any examples.

Not A Native

June 7, 2011 at 12:23 pm

Hi Fi said it all. Arkley likes only like minded candidates. And if they take office, hear other other opinions , obtain new information, and change their minds Arkely doesn’t like them any more. So much for his respect for individual’s independence. And Arkley vows to use considerable financial means to influence others and has no compunction about promulgating mistruths to do so.

Posters here are calling for respect for candidates based simply on their virtue as contributing citizens. Go preach that gospel to Arkley if you really believe it. He’s the one who needs it. He conducts himself with more irrational hatred than any poster here and only he can and will make good on threats to defeat candidates and ‘destroy’ officeholders.

4th Street Connection

June 7, 2011 at 12:38 pm

Joel Mielke says:
June 7, 2011 at 10:14 am

“… Rex is a uniquely talented man and an asset to our community. Why not treat him with the respect that he deserves, even while opposing his candidacy?”

You are easily impressed Joel. I have had dealings with Rex and I found him to be more narcissistic than the average politician. Your cartoons in the Hybrid-Journal reflect arrogance so I am sure you two are birds of as feather.

Teacher

June 7, 2011 at 12:43 pm

NAN, I don’t disagree with everything you say. That being said, the overall negativity of your posts is overwhelming. You seldom add anything to a conversation other than painfully obvious observations and putdowns towards those who don’t echo your sentiments.
For an example of a painfully obvious observation, I would refer you to what you said about Arkley only supporting like minded candidates. That is what people who give money do NAN. They support people who share their concerns/causes, and if those candidates then do things that the financial supporter doesn’t like, the financial supporter chooses another candidate. That is not unique to Arkley. If you chose to support a liberal candidate, and then that candidate becomes a staunch conservative (Joesph Lieberman), is it wrong to take your financial support away from said candidate?

What the left fails to understand is that Arkley is not supporting certain candidates because he “controls” them. RA supports like minded candidates who believe along the lines that he does. If RA ordered any of these office holders to do something that goes against their beliefs he would get nowhere”
*************************************************************************************
Highly Fried is correct in this instance.
Any individual who varied intentionally or because of a poor understanding of the party line as rendered in the original 1933 austrian german dialect would be considered heretical by R.A.

Joel Mielke

June 7, 2011 at 2:33 pm

Let me get this straight, 4th-Street: your problem with Rex, who volunteers to do at least one non-profit fundraiser every weekend and spends countless hours improving Redwood Fields is “narcissistic”?

What do you do for the community, oh saintly anonymous blogger?

And Hi-Fi, I’d suggest that you browse Mr. Arkley’s correspondences with our Supervisors. Hank has conveniently made them available at Lost Coast Outpost.

Eric Kirk

June 7, 2011 at 2:40 pm

Erik, drawing the lines of the 1st district to keep Rex from being able to run is DIRTY politics if ever there was any. The current proposal does not move his precint into the 4th, but if Lovelace et al. tries to we will all know why.

That’s nice trying to play the ref, but the basic physical reality is that he is deep within Eureka, and the Fourth District has to expand. It makes sense for the Fourth to expand within Eureka and he’s right on the line. Mark Lovelace didn’t draw the line, nor did he write the law.

4th Street Connection

June 7, 2011 at 2:57 pm

Joel Mielke says: June 7, 2011 at 2:33 pm
“Let me get this straight, 4th-Street: your problem with Rex, who volunteers to do at least one non-profit fundraiser every weekend and spends countless hours improving Redwood Fields is “narcissistic”?

What do you do for the community, oh saintly anonymous blogger?”

Sorry Joel. Volunteer work is not enough. A certain level of humanity and humility would be nice. Me? Volunteer work since elementary school without ever pointing the spotlight upon myself. Perhaps you could become Rex’s Publicist. You two are cut from the same cloth. P.S. Your elitist cartoons are very childish.

Teacher

June 7, 2011 at 3:11 pm

4th Street- Your poor attempts to putdown Joel Mielke highlight the importance that you blog anonymously. If your true identity was tied to your posts, it would be a major strike against your intellect and your character. Here’s to posting anonymous putdowns on this site and towards other people you dumb asshole.

Anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 3:30 pm

Why should we not be anonymous in this forum??? You “tell your name” types are the ultimate cry babies on the Herald, go post on the Times-Standard if you want to debate with names, this here is Heraldo’s House, love it or leave it!

Anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 3:53 pm

I’m usually with you Joel. However, a you can do all those wonderful volunteer things and still be a narcissist. I have seen it many times.

Smart 5th Grader

June 7, 2011 at 4:02 pm

Teacher says:
June 7, 2011 at 3:11 pm

“Here’s to posting anonymous putdowns on this site and towards other people you dumb asshole.”

“Smart 5th Grader” is obviously a misnomer, and while I’m sure that Rex would appreciate the concern of the amateur psychologists in this thread, he’s the sort of person who makes life in Eureka richer in so many ways.

Anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 5:20 pm

Anonymous 3:53 is correct. I personally can think of several instances where those who give generously of their time, both at the community and personal level, do so with motives that are clearly self-serving. I’m not saying this is Rex, just agreeing with those who point out you can volunteer and still be a narcissist.

Joel Mielke

June 7, 2011 at 8:21 pm

Uh, can we move on now please?

Anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 9:50 pm

Touchy!

Anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 9:59 pm

Yes, 5:20, like those who only volunteer for fundraisers so they can get their name associated with what they perceive to be upper crust events. They think it puts them higher up the imaginary social ladder we have here. It’s interesting to observe.

Anonymous

June 7, 2011 at 10:41 pm

So true 9:59, but this is not unusual….happens everywhere. That’s why they have the “society pages” in newspapers, or more often blogs these days…to let people be seen attending various functions supporting various causes. It is interesting on many levels, social, business, etc.

The Big Picture

June 8, 2011 at 12:10 am

Cherie Arkley, like Rex, also contributes big to this community, and both used it to their political advantage.

No local media source has dared to even speculate the motivation for, or the potential windfall from, the Arkley’s ongoing lawsuit against the People of Humboldt County.

If the Bass campaign is any indication, local media won’t ask any uncomfortable questions and it will be up to individual voters to remember Bohn’s careless advocacy for Walmart and Calpine.

Not A Native

June 8, 2011 at 12:15 am

Remember those good ole’ days when the Eureka Reporter had a society page with pics and gossipy tidbits that heavily featured the Arkleys and their associates?

That page certainly made life richer in Eureka, didn’t it? Or did it make the rich more life? We all miss it so much we don’t talk about because that would remind us of our loss.

Joel Mielke

June 8, 2011 at 11:34 am

By all means, the charitable impulses of the local citizenry should be subjected to psychological evaluation by a few very sad fucks.

Not A Native

June 8, 2011 at 6:06 pm

Joel, the last refuge of a scoundrel is to wrap themselves in a flag and declare they’re patriotic. And yes, sometime scroundrels masquerade as benefactors to distract attention, much like a magician.

To name just a few, Michael Milkin, Ivan Boesky, and Bernie Madoff maintained their solid reputations that enabled their frauds in no small part due to the largess they gave to charities. And closer to home, the Eureka Carnegie library was originally funded by that generous employer Andrew Carnegie. Read up on the Homestead strike of 1892 and understand Carnegie gave back only a small pittance of what he obtained by treating employees essentially as slaves.

The cloak of respectability often includes being a visible philanthropist and involvement in organized religion. Of course, those same things apply to the genuinely charitable and honorable. It’s hard to discern the difference and it seems what Joel is saying is that it shouldn’t be an issue. We should accept things at face value until there’s a reason to think otherwise.

Teacher

June 8, 2011 at 6:47 pm

NAN, your line of reasoning is very solid and well-thought out. However, I am now scared for my life. My wife loves animals. Adolf Hitler was also a well-documented animal lover. Thus, using your transitive reasoning, my wife hates Jews, the mentally disabled, and also has a passionate desire to rule the world. And for all these years I thought she was just a good looking animal lover…

Mitch

June 8, 2011 at 7:00 pm

One of the few good things about respectability is that, sometimes, the best way to achieve it is to do things worthy of respect. Devious approaches include volunteerism and philanthropy.

If people do things worthy of respect, more power to them. I don’t particularly care about their secret motives.

There will always be counterfeits in any system. But, basically, if someone is pretending to be respectable by genuinely helping others, I think they’re worthy of respect whether they “mean it sincerely” or not. We could use more people doing respectable things, even if they don’t mean it.

I’m not sure there’s any such thing as a “respectable” human being, but I tend to like the ones who pretend-to-be-respectable with persistence, conviction, good humor, and good will. Rex Bohn sure seems to pull it off, though I don’t know him personally.

Anonymous

June 8, 2011 at 7:02 pm

wow. You must really be a teacher, you are taking me right back.

The Big Picture

June 8, 2011 at 7:10 pm

Well written NAN!

No, it’s actually quite easy to discern legitimate charity 6:31.

At least in Carnegie’s era we had newspapers that angrily exposed the duplicity of “charitable impulses” by those who simultaneously engage-in, cheer-lead for, and profit from MORE poverty, and the lifestyles, development models and industries that manufacture it!

Or, we can remain “happy fucks”, by putting blinders on and rejoicing in the employment U.S. corporations provide the world’s children…or in the High School pool funded by the Arkley’s…who joined like-minded “philanthropists” in getting their politicos elected to send public money to Wall Street (or the Eureka Chamber of Commerce), while further divesting from education, health care, infrastructure, welfare, housing, and job programs.

What happened to our public wealth for our schools and swimming pools!?

It’s easy to understand Security National’s self-interest in growing poverty with more big boxes and unaffordable subdivisions, it means more “distressed” loans to buy in bulk and squeeze. Throwing chump-change-charity at a community should have made critical headlines in comparison to Arkley’s potential windfall.

What’s difficult to discern is how so many average people think there’s a benefit that will trickle down to them…even as their community skyrockets in predatory industries, crime and drug abuse.

Only the rich can save us now!

BE GRATEFUL AND NEVER QUESTION THE CHARITABLE IMPULSES OF YOUR BETTERS OR THEIR MINIONS!

Not A Native

June 8, 2011 at 7:14 pm

I’m reiterating again only the simple truth that someone’s being a volunteer or donor to charity isn’t a qualification for the role of holding elective public office. Bohn’s charitable contributions are irrelevant to his ability to be a good public official. What relevant qualifications does Rex Bohn have?

Teacher

June 8, 2011 at 7:18 pm

If volunteering and being an active member of your community doesn’t qualify you to be a local (not state or national) official, what, in your opinion NAN, qualifies a person?

The Big Picture

June 8, 2011 at 7:23 pm

Had Rex Bohn been successful, we might have had an explosion on our bay, or half-constructed storage tanks as Calpine went bankrupt, and, we could have even more poverty-wage jobs with the Wal-Mart he advocated for.

There’s nothing “personal” about it.

Manufacturing more poverty in a community saturated in it serves the class funding Rex’s campaigns, not our working families.

Teacher

June 8, 2011 at 7:26 pm

I completely understand your point Big Pic. You disagree with his politics and that is a great reason not to vote for him. Are you also saying that the fact you disagree with his politics makes him unqualified to hold local office?

Anonymous

June 8, 2011 at 8:15 pm

Mitch makes some good points. Do motives really matter? Probably only to a few who know and/or are in some way are negatively impacted by the “pretenders.” Otherwise, many people might benefit from another’s generosity and motive is irrelevant.

Interesting discussion but not so pertinent to whether Rex would be a good supervisor. Personally, I don’t think so. I am not 100% in either political camp but I can’t see him being an independent or critical thinker. That said, I like him and respect his commitment to our community. I think his heart is in the right place, just don’t agree with his views for the most part.

According to his acquaintances, Hitler loved children, he hugged and kissed them every chance he got, he was a hoot at parties, and treated his friends very generously.

It’s his other accomplishments that were so wrong.

Boy scouts, little league, or pro-bono auctioneering are good things, until they loom large in your campaign literature. (Usually because a candidate lacks vision or other qualifying characteristics of ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP, for example, from career budgetary experience via academics, government, or private business).

When that same candidate simultaneously parrots the talking points for policies and projects proven to hurt rural economies, but proven to benefit their donors in the development community, that’s when a candidate’s good deeds list begins looking suspicious, self-serving and cynical.

How naive to think that the corruption of Wall Street differs from the corruption on Main Street…..where elite “free-market” ideologues continue electing political shills to maintain public subsidies for private projects, and bailouts!

Their love of kids, ball park construction, neighborhood schools, parks, a zoo and activities, hasn’t stopped a generation of Good Ol’ Boys from passing outrageous ideological-based policies that have hurt local families, saturating our communities with poverty wage jobs and the homes they can’t buy, with much more on the way despite a decayed infrastructure and near-bankrupt municipal budgets.

Not exactly “kid-friendly” behavior.

When enough citizens begin questioning their reliance on donated bobbles, they’ll start looking for leadership independent of that tiny minority of speculators determined to maintain their profit levels, no matter how deep they bury the local economy.

Joel Mielke

June 9, 2011 at 7:33 am

By all means, sharp, analytical thinkers would have bring Hitler into the conversation. After all, The Nazis would have done more fundraising auctions in Humboldt County, but they just couldn’t banter.

High Finance

June 9, 2011 at 8:14 am

I have been patiently waiting & reading posts for examples of why the left wing get so hysterical about Rex Bohn.

You all have discounted his decades long volunteerism of many thousands of hours and thousands of dollars he has given to our community. One fool even said something to the effect that it proves he is covering up evil deeds.

The only examples anyone could give to support their hatred of Rex is that he supported CalPine and supported WalMart. Nobody but a liar could claim they knew at that time CalPine was going to go bankrupt. Both positions showed that Rex, unlike other politicians who only give lip service, supports new jobs for the area.

The real reason these sad, pathetic haters have for hating Rex is that he & Robin Arkley get along.

Guess what ? RA also gets along with his barber, his next door neighbor and hundreds of other people in town. You haters are going to have to work overtime making up your “enemies list”.

Joel Mielke

June 9, 2011 at 8:20 am

“You all”?

4th Street Connection

June 9, 2011 at 8:29 am

Leave Rex alone, he’s my 4th Street Connection.

Joel Mielke

June 9, 2011 at 8:51 am

Maybe your joke will be funny the third time you post it.

Eric Kirk

June 9, 2011 at 9:03 am

Well maybe I’ll get it the next time.

tra

June 9, 2011 at 10:41 am

Eric,

It’s a sleazy attempt to imply something about Bohn. I know what they are referring to, because in the past the same accusations have been made with greater specificity (though of course with zero evidence). I’d explain further, but I don’t want to facilitate their smear campaing by explaining what they are trying to imply.

The cowardly anonymous would-be smearer is probably afraid to be more specific because they know that they would be at risk of being sued for libel, and apparently they are at least smart enough to realize that their “anonymity” is far from absolute and that they could be outed for their sleazy tactics.

4th Street Connection

June 9, 2011 at 11:03 am

Sorry Tra, too many people were there. No point in denying what too many know to be fact. Part of the reason he has lost elections in the past is that too many people are well aware. You know what they say; in a small town, even if you don’t know what you are doing, everyone else does.

tra

June 9, 2011 at 11:17 am

If so many people “know” the truth of your accusations, why not make your accusations openly, and under your own name?

Mitch

June 9, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Ummmm, uh, tra? Something about the pot, the kettle, and a color? Yeah, I know.

Seriously, sometimes people are more comfortable saying things without revealing their identity needlessly.

I have no idea whether Mr. Connection’s assertions are valid or not; if they’re not valid, they won’t have much impact on any race. Mr. Bohn won’t even need to deny them. He can just ignore them, as can the rest of us.

Joel Mielke

June 9, 2011 at 12:47 pm

Well, since Mitch is picking nits here, I’ll repeat TRA’s question to this troll, “If so many people “know the truth,”why not make your accusations openly, and under your own name?

Smart 5th Grader

June 9, 2011 at 12:52 pm

Joel Mielke says: “troll”
June 9, 2011 at 12:47 pm

That’s it? That’s all you got is name calling? I would expect more from an elitist snob like you. The reasons why people would have factual knowledge and not want to reveal their identity should be obvious to even you. If you don’t understand this basic concept, see “The Federalist papers” by Publius. Is “Teacher” your history teacher or Sarah Palin?

Joel Mielke

June 9, 2011 at 12:57 pm

“That’s all you got is name calling?”

No, but a battle of wits with you would not be a fair fight.

Smart 5th Grader

June 9, 2011 at 12:59 pm

I would expect more from an elitist snob like you.

Joel Mielke

June 9, 2011 at 1:01 pm

Sorry, pal. You’ll have to earn it.

Not A Native

June 9, 2011 at 1:05 pm

Big Picture 12:55 pretty much nailed the discussion of what qualifications for office entail. Experience volunteering is a good qualification only for futher volunteering work..

Earlier I’d also mentioned educational attainment as a qualification, but Teacher poo-pooed that. Funny, here we got a ‘teacher’ who doesn’t respect educational accomplishment. IMO, ‘teacher’ should renane himself ‘supervisor’ because he has no instructional ability but simply promulgates conservative directives. Clearly, everything he knows was learned in kindergarten.

And yeah, if someone holds positions that demonstrate poor judgement, thats a disqualifications for elective office. Being wrong in analysing the facts and understanding risks matters a lot for positions of authority. Just wanting jobs isn’t a qualification. Having a record of knowing how to make decisions that result in jobs is a qualification.

Mitch

June 9, 2011 at 1:31 pm

Joel, my point wasn’t that tra is as anonymous as Mr. Connection. My point was that tra, being an anonymous commenter, ought to understand that one’s anonymity does not immediately discredit one’s statements.

But I completely agree with this point: if Mr. Connection wishes both to remain anonymous and to be taken for anything but a trolling piece of shit, he or she will need to provide much more substantial evidence of his or her accusations than the assertion that lots of people know.

tra

June 9, 2011 at 1:34 pm

Mitch, you make a valid point about me, a pseudonymous commenter, complaining about someone else posting pseudonymously.

But I think there is a bit of a difference here — I’m not making a potentially libelous accusation against a named individual.

tra

June 9, 2011 at 1:36 pm

And if you ever see me doing that, please DO call me on it.

Mitch

June 9, 2011 at 1:49 pm

As usual, true enough.

4th Street Connection

June 9, 2011 at 1:50 pm

“more substantial evidence of his or her accusations” Like what? Video tape of old town schenanigans in the 70’s? If there’s no video tape, it didn’t happen? Stick your head in the sand and call names. Its all that you have to hang your hat on.

Mitch

June 9, 2011 at 2:46 pm

Like what?

Like a group of people willing to come forward together, if only to a reporter willing to promise them anonymity. There are some such, if not many. Most, as you know, think investigative journalism means figuring out how to open a document they’ve been emailed from someone who works for Phil Crandall and hasn’t forgotten how to send email.

I don’t much care one way or the other whether you’ve got the goods; I’m just telling you the way the world works. Also, if this was Old Town in the 70s, what makes you think the electorate cares. By my math, that’s more than 30 years ago, and most people would rather judge someone based on, say, how they’ve behaved for the last 25 years.

Joel Mielke

June 9, 2011 at 2:56 pm

Uh oh, Rex is guilty of shenanigans in the ’70s? I’m sure glad that I was cloistered at the time, in case I ever want to run for office.

“Like a group of people willing to come forward together, if only to a reporter willing to promise them anonymity.” Yeah sure. Investigative Journalism is alive and well in Humboldt County. (ROTGLMAO) They don’t even ask tough questions. Lap dogs is a better analogy than watch dogs.

Smart 5th Grader

June 9, 2011 at 4:10 pm

oops (ROTFLMAO)

Mitch

June 9, 2011 at 6:06 pm

Smart 5th Grader,

If you’re a Herald regular, you know what a cheerleader I am for the local press. Sis boom bah, and all that.

If it happened in the 70s and didn’t involve anyone’s death, I think most of the public is ready to forgive. We are too busy shaking our heads at our own indiscretions.

If you really thought you had goods on somebody, I’d bet the T-S’ reporter (not a grammatical error) would at least listen. But if the goods are from the 70s, I think he’d be wise to take a pass on the story.

Joel Mielke

June 9, 2011 at 6:22 pm

I wonder how many decades it will be before Rose stops bleating about a few bogus letters every time Richard Salzman’s name comes up. I hope that Smart-5th-Grader isn’t setting the standard.

Anonymous

June 9, 2011 at 6:30 pm

I agree, Mitch. I don’t support Rex for a variety of reasons – mainly his vision for Humboldt County and my opinion that he will be an Arkley puppet. But what happened in the 70’s is just not pertinent, IMO. It should certainly not be a campaign topic. Who cares? Focus on the issues that are relevant to the role of supervisor and forget the rest…including his community service.

Anonymous

June 9, 2011 at 8:40 pm

So, is Rex at Arkley’s do tonite?

Anonymous

June 10, 2011 at 1:22 am

The recent campaign against Jimmy by the anonymous “Concerned Cutten Parents” (that Rob Arkley did not deny having a hand in when asked directly by Hank Sims) is suspiciously similar to the campaign “Eureka Coalition for Jobs” that worked against Chris Kerrigan’s reelection run. Seems this type of thing follows Rex around.

Anonymous

June 10, 2011 at 1:34 am

Joel, being guilty of illicit shenanigans in the 70’s is fine, until you pull the “moral high ground” card.

From 2005
“The people of Eureka want honesty,” Bohn told the Journal. “They want integrity in their elected officials, want them to take the moral high ground,” Bohn says. “I don’t think there’s anything recreational about an illegal substance.”

High Finance

June 10, 2011 at 8:13 am

The smears start fast here don’t they? Stupid 5th Grader better known as 4th St Connection is just the first of many slimeballs.

Decent people aren’t interested in what happened 40 years ago when the candidate was in his teens or very early 20’s. And Rex is as qualified as any of the sitting Supervisors today were when they ran for office.

Joel Mielke

June 10, 2011 at 9:33 am

Mark Lovelace went in with solid qualifications and skills and is now a critical asset to the Board of Supervisors. Patrick Cleary had superior qualifications, but he wasn’t elected. Rex, like most candidates who turn into good Supervisors, would go in without “qualifying” experience, but with a desire to attend to the county’s needs, familiarity with the district, and an impressive record of service to the community.

Again, oppose him for his positions, but question his motives, and you make an ass of yourself.

Eric Kirk

June 10, 2011 at 9:40 am

Ditto what Joel said.

Anonymous

June 10, 2011 at 9:46 am

Many forget the motive of a high paying job with great benefits as a motive for wanting to be supervisor.

Not A Native

June 10, 2011 at 9:58 am

Get off it Hi Fi. Commenters here have strenuously objected to the relevance and fairness of that allegation. However, if your objection is simply seeing prejudical claims, too bad. This is a mostly open forum. So extreme views get an airing(you personally are a beneficiary of the openness policy).

But simply declaring Bohn qualified because unqualified elected persons have been elected before, doesn’t cut it. Unless, of course, you believe that elective office is a figurehead, simply a popularity contest, because real power is held elsewhere. In that case candidates have no need of knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience. But most people understand that negative financial, social, and security consequences result from unqualified persons holding office. Again: What qualifications do you find Bohn possesses?

Joel Mielke

June 10, 2011 at 10:05 am

“… simply declaring Bohn qualified because unqualified elected persons have been elected before, doesn’t cut it.”

My guess is that Not-a-Native would have no problem with an “unqualified” candidate whose political goals are compatible with his own.

Not A Native

June 10, 2011 at 10:51 am

Joel, sorry to disillusion you but I’m not an ‘ideologue at all costs’ as you seem to be.

For example, I agreed with Paul Hagen’s political goals but felt he lacked necessary qualifications for the DA position. I felt the same about Susan Ornelas for the Arcata council. I disagreed with Sheriff Philp’s politics but found him the most qualified candidate.

Joel Mielke

June 10, 2011 at 11:26 am

What would lead you to believe that I’m an “Ideologue at all costs”?

High Finance

June 10, 2011 at 12:02 pm

What qualifications does Rex have for Supervisor NAN ?

He is experienced in business and in local government. He was a manager for a large company for many years. I believe he was self employed for some time. He served on the Board of Directors for Redwood Acres for ten years. He is a registered voter and a high school graduate.

What qualifications does being Supervisor require NAN ? There is no “Supervisor” degree out there like a Law Degree or Medical School diploma.

anonymous

June 10, 2011 at 12:24 pm

““The people of Eureka want honesty,” Bohn told the Journal. “They want integrity in their elected officials, want them to take the moral high ground,” Bohn says. ”

Like registering under their true political party affiliation, being forthright about their opinions on projects/bills/ordinances/etc. on the table…stuff like that? Because the elected officials he shmoozes with did none of the above.

The Big Picture

June 10, 2011 at 12:36 pm

Where were Rex Bohn’s motives questioned?

When a candidate supports his donor’s big box agenda that’s well-documented to injure rural economies, (or, in the case of Calpine, threatening the safety of nearby residents), it doesn’t lessen the value of his charity, it calls into question his intelligence…how else do you explain caring for children while supporting policies that injure a community and its working families? (Thus, the silly Hitler metaphor).

Incongruous actions can easily give the appearance of cynicism to charity, but, it doesn’t make it so. The uncomfortable alternative is questioning his intelligence…or, maybe he’s just using the development community’s largess to win office where he will finally concede that his positions have had no research behind them. He is a genius, posing as a fool?

Although Joel and I agree on most issues, I have never once seen Mr. Mielke submitting questions to candidates at forums.

I always submit the same question, among others, and the league of Women voters always omit it: “What books have you read this year”.

Crossing your fingers and hoping someone will grow into the office is quaint, and our community’s have suffered immensely for it.

Joel Mielke

June 10, 2011 at 2:01 pm

“The … alternative is questioning his intelligence…”

No, it’s not. And if we don’t convince more people that unrestricted development is short-sighted and that big-box stores are an economic drain we’ll be stuck with a majority of local voters who think that the Home-Depot-on-the-Bay is a splendid idea. Telling them that they are stupid because they are “supporting policies that injure a community and its working families” will not make you any friends.

I’m glad that Big Picture is active in the community, and I could surely do more myself, but I couldn’t care less what books candidates are reading. I want to know what they will do in office.

Not A Native

June 10, 2011 at 2:21 pm

Thanks Hi Fi for being responsive.

What were Bohn’s responsibilities as a ‘manager’, what decisions did he make independently and what projects did he lead? Was he a supervisor and what tasks were his subordinates responsible for. And what committees was he on at Redwood Acres and what challenging issues did he make decisions about. Since its his terminal degree, what course track did Bohn take in High School, and did he receive any academic honors. As far as being a registered voter, I don’t consider that a qualification at all.

No, elective office isn’t a professional career. But people of accomplishment and records of having ability to understand complex issues, ask original pertinent questions, generate cooperation and respect in professional staff, and make fair decisions, have demonstrated qualities that being an effective elective official will require of them.

Joel Mielke

June 10, 2011 at 2:26 pm

And now, why don’t you respond to my question, Not-a-Native?

The Big Picture

June 10, 2011 at 3:19 pm

No Joel, I’m not telling the electorate they are stupid when they are uniformed.

On the other hand, assuming Rex is a good reader, surely he would have read something on the issues he’s outspoken on!?

Well, apparently not.

Aspiring to leadership means educating voters, not ignoring and avoiding virtually all independent economic research that dramatically conflicts with an agenda proven to hurt rural communities.

I concede that it might be possible that local politics can do an about-face by “making nice”, I just can’t think of any recent or historic precedence. Were you absent from the timber wars, the Walmart war, the Calpine war? It generated few friendships across isles. Positive social change is drenched in conflict, unfortunately, often violent.

Unless we gain a real public-interest community newspaper, a relentless chain of workshops with economic experts fielding questions, a public TV station willing to start running the plethora of documentaries, (including Amy Goodman), or a pile of money to achieve any one of these things….it is critical that you and I, and many more, express the righteous anger and outrage that a cabal of dimwits need only to frame themselves in charity and “correct affiliations” to get elected….while continuing a failed generation’s agenda of big boxes, big malls, big homes, and big profits for their donors under the tired lie that the benefits will trickle down….when every measurable indicator is crying for “smaller is better”!

“Making friends” might help you get that job at city hall, fast-track a permit, or change an ordinance…but you’re never going to pry public subsidies out of the hands of the development community without equal and relentless force and outrage.

Joel Mielke

June 10, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Hats off to you, Big Picture, but I have more modest ambitions.

What Now

June 10, 2011 at 6:03 pm

Big Picture:“What books have you read this year”.

Joel Mielke :I have more modest ambitions.

(Regarding Rex Bohn)
High Finance: He is a registered voter and a high school graduate.

The HH book club should, perhaps, start with a local book or two but not be restricted local authors, IMO. There are many books out there that are relevant to our area and the interests of those who post here, but are not local, per se. A section devoted to that, as suggested before, would great. You would be filling the void left by Oprah! : )

Plain Jane

June 11, 2011 at 6:25 am

TRA’s suggestion of The Authoritarians is a great place to start since we have so many of them in Humboldt. Although Jon Humboldt Gates’ “Night Crossings” is one of my favorite local books. (I still haven’t read “Falk’s Claim” but it’s in the “to read” stack somewhere.

Walt

June 11, 2011 at 6:57 am

“Maybe it’s time to start the Humboldt Herald book club.” Great idea! You could call it “Humbooks,” and devote at least a certain percentage to local writers like Amy Stewart, Jerry Rohde, Cecilia Holland, Pete Haggard, and Natasha Wing. Gates is good, but he’s not local anymore (last I heard). When you make a recommendation, or open up a book-oriented “Quick Notes”, make sure you let LOCAL bookstores and your library know. I’m all, like, this could be, y’know, totally awesome, dude.

Plain Jane

June 11, 2011 at 7:13 am

Gates may not be living locally now, but he is a multi-generational local who wrote about local history. I just finished Summer Woods novel, “Wrecker” the other day. She isn’t local either, but her story is set in So. Hum. (and it isn’t about pot growing.)

Walt

June 11, 2011 at 7:17 am

D’oh! I forgot Natasha moved to Colorado. But while we’re on the subject, would you allow ebooks, books-on-CD, or even (shudder) movies, for folks like Moviedad who “don’t have time to read”? Forgot to mention local authors Ray Raphael and Freeman House, too.

Not A Native

June 11, 2011 at 8:07 am

Yeah Mitch, I understand asking about the education of an adult seems unusual. But its Bohn’s terminal educational attainment so it means something about his intellectual capability. The college major study of candidates is always of interest, even if it was many mooons in the past. Whether a person studied sociology, chemistry, or art history is a factor in evaulating qualifications for a position requiring decision making.

Joel Mielke

June 11, 2011 at 8:12 am

What-Now should not compare me to Rex, he’s making me blush. And with intellectually stunted opposition such as we’ve seen in this thread, you’d better get used to the idea of him as Supervisor.

Percy

June 11, 2011 at 8:47 am

Intellectually stunted opposition seems a bit harsh, Joel. I give Bohn kudos for his community involvement, but his managerial creds mean little to me. Bush was touted as a business savvy leader and we all saw what we got with the decider. I didn’t like the negative campaign he and Arkely ran against Kerrigan, and his stand on Calpine was not well thought out. I get the impression he is pro development no matter what the consequences and that’s why I won’t vote for him. I would hate the board of supervisors to turn out like the Eureka city council.

tra

June 11, 2011 at 9:02 am

…with intellectually stunted opposition such as we’ve seen in this thread, you’d better get used to the idea of him as Supervisor.

Fortunately, Humboldt has plenty of voters who are more intelligent than the contents of these comment threads would suggest. I also think we’ll have number of well-qualified candidates to choose from.

Depending on what happens with the redistricting, Rex may not even be eligible to run for 1st District Supervisor (unless he moves into the new district).

Joel Mielke

June 11, 2011 at 9:53 am

Percy states his own position well, but if he looks back in this thread to the comments of 4th-Street-Connection, Smart-5th-Grader, Not-a-Native, and Anonymous, I think that he’ll see that my epithet was understated.

I hope that TRA is right, but after canvassing door-to-door, I don’t have much faith in local voters. I’m sure that some voters can be persuaded by good arguments though.

High Finance

June 11, 2011 at 2:53 pm

I am still trying to understand what Percy’s unhappiness with President Bush has to do with Rex but oh well.

The problem with many on the left is their tendency to want to demean the intelligence of those on the right. It causes them to underestimate their opponents and that is good for us. Many, many highly intelligent people are pro development.

I am sure that Rex will wear the label of Pro Development and Pro Jobs proudly.

Joel Mielke

June 11, 2011 at 3:09 pm

He was making a valid rhetorical point that supposed business skills don’t necessarily contribute to good political leadership. And don’t try to tell me that the right is not at least as guilty as the left of “demeaning the intelligence” of their opponents.

Percy

June 11, 2011 at 4:13 pm

What Joel said.

The Big Picture

June 12, 2011 at 2:17 pm

In reality, claiming there’s an anti-development group is a lie.

Walmart fell to a popular vote, after their history was exposed. Calpine voluntarily left after their history was exposed. The Marina Center might be there now if Arkley had immediately done a state-of-the-art cleanup. Other than that, every old-timer I’ve talked to laments about a Hershey’s Chocolate factory turned away many decades ago.

Conjuring up a myth of “No-Growthers” shields the actual legacy of an unbridled development community happily building our cities into moratoriums.

Their greed has emerged as the biggest hindrance to development.

Anonymous

June 12, 2011 at 2:18 pm

***Joel Mielke says:***
June 11, 2011 at 8:12 am

“…with intellectually stunted opposition such as we’ve seen in this thread, you’d better get used to the idea of him as Supervisor.”

With “motivationally stunted” posters like Joel at 5:03PM, we’d better get used to the idea of Rex as supervisor.

Joel Mielke

June 12, 2011 at 2:37 pm

Touché, Anonymous. I just hope that you’ll be involved in the coming campaign so that you can shame me into doing more.

High Finance

June 13, 2011 at 9:59 am

“The Marina Center might be there now if Arkley had immediately done a state-of-the-art cleanup.”

Balderdash. The “state of the art” phrase is nothing more than a cover up of the left’s real agenda. No big boxes and anti everything that is RA.

Mitch

June 13, 2011 at 10:16 am

“Balderdash.”

Balderdash? Balderdash! What real person says balderdash? I’m more and more convinced that HiFi is a research project. Someone fess up.

The Big Picture

June 13, 2011 at 12:17 pm

HiFi is easily baited when you enter his realm of assumptions.

The ONLY (costly) local economic study on the subject concluded that Eureka was saturated in national retailers 10 years ago. Professional economists and urban planners have been writing for years about the negative impacts to rural economies from big boxes and sprawl.

Our resident troll is consistent in never providing independent research to back his long-discredited assertions that contradict all the evidence.

As expected, he’s just provided us with his trademark of ridicule, now we can expect his satire and the silence that follows…or, maybe a little more ridicule first….

Volunteerism = always interesting to delineate between those folks who volunteer due to the “human compassion side of the brain” as compared to the “alterior political motive or business class motive or individual popularity motive, etc…” to cover over those other inadequate areas of one’s life where one is looking to benefit from something alterior and somewhat socially sinister through the volunteerisms and it’s networkings.

Rex is a good man, regardless of whether or not one agrees with his political opinions. I do not believe Rex to be a sinister dude, but one who is a tireless and dedicated community member. Most people would have already “run-out” of energy, but apparantly not Rex.

JL

Anonymous

June 13, 2011 at 9:56 pm

Henchman, I frequently skip over your posts for a variety of reasons (sorry!) generally the length and the fact I don’t always understand what you are trying to say (sorry, again!). However, I find this 7:20 post to be on point regarding the discussions about Rex. Also, even though I can’t see myself voting for him for Supervisor, I agree with your analysis/conclusion…he’s a good man no matter his motives…cannot see anything sinister there at all!

Anyhow, have you read the U.S. Constitution lately or read a book with full understanding on the first read? Anyhow there are some ironies to consider…………..like a Shakespearean playwrite, or even better, Obama Care where reading is for boobs.

JL

Anonymous

June 13, 2011 at 11:26 pm

Geez, Henchman, I have to say, I read prolifically…way too much…
That said, I find your posts to, historically, be so daunting that I tend to skip them. Sorry to tell you this, but I find both Plain Jane and NAN to be more compelling…even HiFi, though I agree with little/ to nothing of what he posts.

your apparant intellectual weaknesses and scared state of mind smells of stupidity. Too bad your stuck on deceived mode. You’ll learn soon enough. And gee whiz, the intentional character “beat-down” is nothing but a foolish haymaker’s opportunity, usually faceless, nameless and from behind and without warning, just as the guilty are compelled to do. Maybe, you just need to read more Happy Gilmore books since positivity is your unprovoked political name of the game, even when those, like you, who believe in the game are getting dauntingly “jacked”. I know it is hard for sociopolitically affected people to talk about “negative stuff” when a broom and carpetbagger exist in the same unswept confines. Sweep it away , but under that rug.

No need to be sorry either – I’d rather understand that “lazy eyes” and “mindsets in denial” exist as it helps to confirm what has been historically said about the Sheeple of America and it’s affirmed pyramidal schemes for power and control.

Have a coke and a smile :-)

JL

Plain Jane

June 14, 2011 at 10:10 am

There is apparently no limit on how delusional some people can be.

The Big Picture

June 14, 2011 at 11:46 am

No one has called Bohn “sinister” or “Hitler”!

The conundrum in this thread, that is motivating a few ridiculous posts, remains unaddressed, (a task once sought by authentic community media).

How does a person well-known for charity auctions who volunteers for little league, also advocate for more big boxes and industries that are known to have negative impacts on rural economies, and place residents in mortal danger?

Why does this same person ignore alternatives blossoming everywhere?

If local media acknowledged the overwhelming economic evidence and pressed the uncomfortable questions, the other half of Eureka might begin registering to vote, candidates like Bohn wouldn’t stand a chance, and Joel wouldn’t have to worry about making friends by appeasing political enemies.

High Finance

June 14, 2011 at 11:54 am

The premise of your question is flawed. You assume the big boxes produce only negative effects on the economy and ignore the benefits.

You need to look outside your little box at the REAL big picture.

Anonymous

June 14, 2011 at 11:56 am

The Times Standard dissenting against local orthodoxy?

Ha Ha

Fact Checker

June 14, 2011 at 12:21 pm

HiFi. Ever the apologist and spin doctor for RA and multi-national corporations. Top pay for CEOs and for international stockholders are more important than American towns and their local economies. What a tool!

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